Maheman Sahafion Ko Hamari Zindagi Se Roshnaas Karane Ki Mansoobah Bandi?
**After spending ten years in the field of journalism, by the last quarter of 1985, I had reached a point where I could be considered capable of reporting on international conferences. My journey in this regard began with the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. I was part of the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo (may he rest in peace). With great dedication, I sought to understand the rules and traditions of the United Nations.
As a result, various subsidiary bodies of the United Nations began inviting me to workshops and international conferences on different topics held in several countries worldwide. Among them was a conference on Palestine that took place in Malaysia for five days. Attending it helped me understand the fundamental reasons behind the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, making it easier to grasp the “latest” developments.
These days, after a long hiatus, Pakistan is hosting a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In the past, global leaders have visited Pakistan to foster bilateral relations, but it has been several years since the last international organizational meeting. The primary reason for this has been the long war against terrorism imposed on Afghanistan by the United States and its allies after 9/11. This conflict, which lasted for two decades, saw Pakistan playing the role of a “key ally” for the U.S. and NATO forces. This role angered the “jihadists,” who, instead of targeting the state, subjected ordinary people to acts of terrorism in Pakistan’s cities as a form of retaliation.
The very name of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization indicates that it was founded by our all-weather friend, China. The organization’s primary objective is to connect Russia and China to South Asia through Central Asia. In a broader sense, it seeks to revive the historical era when the famous “Silk Road” allowed many ancient European nations to transport their goods through the land routes of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, passing through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to reach Russia and China, while bringing back exotic goods to liven up their markets.
However, after the introduction of massive cargo ships, this tradition began to fade. With the dominance achieved in various industries due to modern inventions, countries like Britain eventually monopolized access to our region. In contrast, Russia gradually took over all the Central Asian countries. Nevertheless, both imperial powers were willing to recognize Afghanistan as a “buffer state,” leading to a kind of demarcation between them. However, our region was completely cut off from places like Samarkand and Bukhara, as well as Kashgar. As a humble student of history, I sincerely believe that turning the SCO into a successful and dynamic organization could transform Pakistan and Iran into the most important Asian countries in terms of trade and culture in the coming years, even more than China and Russia.
After expressing these honest thoughts, I also have the right to state that efforts to successfully organize this conference in Islamabad are not being made with sufficient dedication. It is true that terrorism has been rearing its head in recent months. A few terrorist separatists from Balochistan are targeting Chinese installations and individuals, using military intelligence information. Such information is enough to indicate that extremist groups are receiving combat-related intelligence from adversarial countries and powers hostile to Pakistan.
Even while acknowledging this, I insist that our security agencies can ensure full protection of Islamabad’s “Red Zone.” There was no need to give the impression of curfew-like conditions in many other parts of the city. Official delegations attending international conferences are not responsible for improving our “image” in their home countries. They will be busy fulfilling their official duties upon arriving in Pakistan. It is the journalists who accompany them that can play a crucial role in enhancing our image. After some research, I discovered that no formal plans had been made to introduce our daily life to these visiting journalists.
Iran has been far more affected by terrorism than Pakistan. In 1997, I attended the OIC summit there. The building where the conference was held was specially constructed far from the city center of Tehran. We were transported in groups via official buses that would be switched at three different checkpoints. We underwent rigorous searches before boarding each bus.
However, once we reached the convention center, there were no officials keeping an eye on us. We roamed freely inside the building. To my pleasant surprise, during the conference, I happened to pass by Yasir Arafat and Syrian President Assad and introduced myself informally, engaging in a conversation that lasted several minutes. No official came to stop me.
In contrast, an odd atmosphere has been created in Islamabad. After ensuring the protection of our esteemed guests, we should have allowed the rest of the city to carry on as usual. This would have allowed journalists who had come with the foreign delegations to roam around our markets and tea houses after filing their stories. By interacting with people, they would undoubtedly have felt welcome. Despite all our shortcomings, we are a hospitable nation. Winning over guests is a natural part of our culture. The ordinary residents of Islamabad should have been given the chance to interact with the foreign visitors.
